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Dawson was arrested and handcuffed at the hospital in the early morning of Dec. 21 after she refused to leave the emergency room. She later collapsed in the parking lot and died from a blood clot in the lung.

AHCA fined the hospital $45,000, required it develop a corrective action plan and review all of its emergency room visits dating back six months. The hospital missed the March 1 deadline for the ER reviews by 22 days and was fined $500 for each day.

The total fines and the costs associated with the AHCA sanctions, the hospital said, may exceed $150,000.

It seems the facility is out of hot water. Its corrective action plan, which was rejected twice in late February, was approved March 24 by AHCA and the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. AHCA had threatened to suspend the hospital's Medicaid program. However, hospital spokeswoman Sandi Poreda said both Medicaid and Medicare services went uninterrupted.

Administrators are asking for community support to help advance the hospital, which many rely on for care.

“Our hospital is the heartbeat of our community, and we wouldn’t be here without the strong support from the communities we serve,” said Ruth Attaway, the hospital's former CEO and administrator and now chair of its board of directors. “Many people have reached out to ask how they could help, and we wanted to give people an opportunity to invest in their hospital."

The hospital will host a bluegrass and barbecue benefit event on April 30 in downtown Blountstown. The concert will be free but all donations and proceeds made from food sales will benefit the hospital, Poreda said. Residents should visit the Calhoun County Chamber of Commerce's website and Facebook page for more information.

“The community is a critical part of our hospital’s ability to meet the demands from the state and continue to provide quality health care to Liberty and Calhoun counties,” said hospital CEO Jim Heitzenrater. “Every little bit will help us move forward.”

To donate, send a check to the hospital at 20370 NE Burns Ave., Blountstown, 32424, or make an online contribution at www.calhounlibertyhospital.com. Donations of all amounts will be accepted.